Macau

Macau is an autonomous territory of China on the western side of the Pearl River estuary in East Asia, located 40 miles to the west of Hong Kong. Macau was settled by Portugal in 1557, and its name comes from the original Chinese name, "Magang". It was not until the 1840s that the Portuguese settlers in Macau were granted the right to self-administration, and the Qing dynasty recognized its perpetual cession to Portugal in 1887. Macau was bombed by the US Air Force during World War II due to its sale of oil to the Japanese, who virtually created a protectorate in Macau through the use of advisers to the local government. On 20 December 1999, the Chinese government assumed formal sovereignty over Macau, and Macau maintained its own legal system, public security force, monetary system, customs policy, and immigration policy, while China handled its military defense and foreign affairs. The city is known for its casinos and luxury hotels, becoming the gaming capital of the world.